Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-16
aenro,y nt Cape Town.


United States Cousul Siler, at Cape Town,
has sent to the Department of State an in
teresting report on leprosy in South Africa
He says that he has recently read in Ameri-
can papers accounts of the existence of lep-
rosy on the Pacific coast, with expressions
of fear that the disease may become wide.
spread. This fear, he says, is but natural,
coming from country whose inhabitants
have heretofore enjoyed immunity from a
disease certainly the most loathscme and
most TO be dreaded to which humanity is
heir. The first case of leprosy in Cape Colo
ny was introduced by Malay slaves more
than one hundred years ago, but not until
1916 was any attempt made by the govern
ment TO stamp out the disease. The consul
says: "In that year a leper asylum was es-
tablished at Robben Island, seven miles
from Cape Town, and up to 1884 744 lepers
had been admitted to the institution, and
comprised but very small proportion Of
the leper population, as the segregation OF
lepers was not made compulsory. lie laet,
lepers mingle freely with the other citizens,
and their appearance is so common that
they attract little attention in the streets.
At the Cape Town Fish Market | have seen
epers at work cleaning and curing fish, and
the disgusting sight did not seem TO deter
buyers. The rapid increase Of the disease,
particularly among the European popu-
lation, rs described in the recent reports OF
district surgeons, has aroused the colonial
government TO action, and second and
larger asylum is in process OF construction,
the present accommodation being wholly
inadequate to provide for all the afflicted
applying for admission. The primary
cause of leprosv has never been determined,
and it is questionable whether it rises spon-
taneously. That the disease is hereditary,
no doubt seems TO exist, and that it is con-
tagious is generally admitted by medical
practitioners OF this country-a small mi
norty even holding it to be infectious. Re
cent microscopic investigation has estab-
lished the fact that the diseased tissues and
secretions are invaded by numerous para
sitica organisms called baclli. This specific
bacillus of leprosy is, no doubt, the true
cause; and ii is spread by incubation,
either by direct contact with the secretion
or suppurating sores OF the leper, or trans
mitted by the clothes, utensils, pipes, etc,
containing these parasitcal germs of the
disease. To touch q leprous person with q
sore finger, use the same knife or fork, or
to drink out of the same glass, may be the
means of communicating the disease. While
many instances may be pointed out here
where men cohabited with leprous wives
without contracting the contagion, we'll
authenticated cases are vouched for at
the asylum in which the disease was
communicated by playing on flute
previously used by leper, sleeping IN
bed previously occupied by u leper, bait
ing leper fisherman's hook, etc. The imme-
diate cause of death is usually congestion OF
the lungs, diarrhPa, or general exhaustion.
have seen man at the asylum with both
hands and feet of, One of the worst cases
pointed out to me WAS that of man with
mona Of his feet left, with the exception of 4
portion of the lower aw and forehead, the
nose, eyes, tongue and cheekbones having
disappeared. He was only living because
the vital organs had been numerically un-
impaired 1t has been my lot to witness
much human misery and distress incident to
war and contagious epidemics, but | have
seen nothing, nor do / believe it possible for
the mind to conceive anything, so terrible
and abhorent as the awful picture presented
by congregation of lepers. The disease is
considered incursble, although it may be
kept in check for time by certain medi-
cines and liberal supply of fatty foods.
Colonial experts agree that the spread of
the disease can be prevented, and that it can
be stamped out by stringent repressive
measures, looking to the segregation of lep-
ers. The segregation of lepers, however,
would avail but little in stamping out the
disease, unless the sexes were strictly kept
apart for it is concusively shown that the
disease does not impair the provocative
powers, but that, on the contrary, lepers, es-
pecially the females. are peculiarly libidi-
nous. The consul cites cases to show that
leprosv is communicable to animals, which,
if used for food, may in turn transfer the
disease to human beings.